This just came to me, I've tried to post it before, but I've changed what I think was the trouble.

Away as the soft winds blew,
Blackness with light had been filled.
Crisp the day was that I did rue,
Dreams were dark as I fiddled.
Every tale old and true,
Fair maids and knights alike.
Gil-Galad the true,
Horse riders on a hike.
Indeed their deed were great,
Just think of them in detail.
Keen of sword never late,
Lasting courage, never fail.
Masters one and all,
Never forgotten, never forgotten.
Open ears hear my call
Pact breakers are rotten.
Queens and Kings celebrate,
Rejoice and break forth praise.
Sing out loud for souls do mate,
Trust me now in this haze!
Understand the words here,
Vista’s ever changing.
Wishes are hard to bear,
Xyloid, in the forest hiding,
Yellow sunsets ever flameing,
Zaps the twilight, under boats sailing.

While I am not certain which of the two themes you have chosen I do like this poem. I will assume that you are a bard commenting on Middle Earth topics for your songs/poems. That's my story and I'm stickin' to it.

I would like to be the very first to welcome you into the Grand High Mystic Society for the Preservation of the Bardic Traditions, better known as The Bards' Guild. You, Martin the Warrior, are our newest Apprentice Bard Welcome

Thank you so much, I want to pump a fist in the air, but won't because I'm in class right now. I'd like to see the teachers face if I did though. I'd also like to go yell into all the classrooms , but I think that I'd be suspended and then I would not be able to go online.

Apathy is not becoming of a
Bard, no, not a bit.
Concerning what he sees
Defining passions must he knit, and

Entangle them within the very
Fire of his heart,
Go deep into the shadow,
Hear into the part-
Ing chasm of the world, and

Jar those that sleep, awake,
Keep those who open up their eyes a-
Light with song and shaking
Merriment of soul, and

Nourish every aspect
Of the world so strong yet frail,
Perhaps a simple verse will
Quench all thirst, and make all hale.

Rising from the Spirit and
Surrounded by the Song,
The bard is free…and yet, always will be
Under the spell of longing, for the
Very essence of the
Word, e-
Xclaiming to the distant Shore,
“You, I know you’ve heard—heard the
Zephyr I sent to you at play in Valinor.”

Welcome Martin and Eorlingas!! Hey guys and gals, did you know it is "Good Luck to Buy a Bard a Beer?" Well it is and so here you go! The first one is from me!!

Böri I find your submission very interesting. I am not the one who does the accepting so I will await the judgment of the Master Bard Lord Erinhue! But till then welcome and I glad that you wish to join us in the Bards Guild!!

Spring come quickly!!~*Sister of the Twilight*~~*Daughter of the Moon*~

Sorry to be so late getting back here, not the best time of the year for me.

Bori While it might come a bit late there is no less enthusiasm in my greeting as I welcome you as the newest apprentice to the Grand High Mystic Society fo.......well you know the rest. Welcome to the Bards' Guild.

Alas the son of Denethor,
Boromir; the proud, the strong.
Called to seek Isildurs Bane,
Doom, a sword, a journey long.

Even so he did not quail, but
Forth he rode from iron gate and
Gondor's walls through wood and vale,
He sought Imladris and his fate.

In Imladris dwelt he there
Journey-weary, seeking rest,
Knowing not the deadly snare
Laid upon the hobbit's chest.

Moria found him valiant,
Numbers great of orcs he slew,
Oh, through Lothlorien he passed, in
Parth Galen, he was not true.

Quest of quests, he cast away,
Ring of power coveting,
Sought Frodo on Amon Hen,
There his weakness answering.

Under shadow of ancient tow'r,
Valiant Boromir did fall,
While at the last he did redeem,
Xyphic shafts did pierce his call,

Yes, Boromir did fail the test, and at his
Zenith found eternal rest.

I believe that this is the proper location to post an audition for the Guild, is it not? If I am in error, please correct me, as I am new here, as of Today. Thank you, most venerable members and quite particularly venerable Erinhue.

Atar would be an acceptable nickname. As for the continent from which I hail, that would be the Northern American continent, the States to be specific. What distant and seldom heard of land might you call your abode, freind?

Nobody asked but anybody could tell ya, I live in the greatest city in the world, The City so nice they nemed it twice, New York, New York, Brooklyn to be exact and mighty proud of it.

Sometimes I get a sixth sense about these things and that something told me it was time to get the rope, haul my broke down old bard butt up outta the well and come see what was going on over here.

I am really impressed with this audition, Atar. Having the ABC focus on a single character has not been done in some time and I commend your command of the subject. All in all, very nicely done.

Now for the words I know ya been waiting for, Atar, I welcome you as the brand spankingest newest apprentice in the Grand High Mystic Society for the Preservation of the Bardic Traditions... AKA The Bards' Guild, the oldest (I'm not gonna argue about it anymore) guild on the boards.

Master Hue, most venerated Warrior-Bard of Belfalas, and Illuvatar's Bright Spirit, Grand High Bard of the Guild... I, Erucolindon Atarnarmo, of the House of Feanor, do most humbly and graciously accept this appointment into the Grand High Mystic Society for the Preservation of Bardic Traditions, by far the oldest and most respected institution on these forums, and do humbly swear to uphold the ancient traditions and rules that accompany my station. (that was a bit long winded, but oh well)

This may not be the right place for this query, but now that I am an apprentice Bard, though technically not yet inducted, what duties are expected of me, and where shall I go (thread-wise)? For indeed I am yet new to this whole thing, and know not the arcane and mystic ways of the GHMSPBT, though I have reviewed some of the more famous threads, such as "So Ya Wanna Be A Bard", and the oldest of the Bard Guild Threads, and such things.

Come on down to the Bard's Guild thread in the Alliances and Guild forum. That's where we bards check in and chat it up. Things are slower than they have been in the past. That could me partly my fault, have not been around that much lately. I'm gonna try and change that and get here on a more regular basis.

As far as what to do, come talk in the Guild House(thread) post whatever songs or poems come to mind. Christmas is just not gonna work for me, waaay too busy but I am thinking on planning a festival for spring, or maybe even New Years if I can see a little daylight spare time wise.

Zirak-zigil, where the last Valaraukar fell. Yrch, innumerable beyond count Xerxes, a Lord of the Numenorean Black. Warg, my loyal blood-thirst hound Valaraukar, Longbeards' Bane Udun, the Garden of my youth Tarks, bloody handed slayers of my legions Sauron, my great Lord and Master now lost. Ringwraiths, pompous servants and over-proud. Quendi, my Master's Age-long foes. Pukel-men, I know not of them Orthanc, what would have been my Balmoral Nurn, pantry for my homeland. Mere of the Dead, where little candles dwell. Lorien, foes dwelling on a green mount Khamul, a consort not to come back. Jewels, to crown Rings less sound. Isenmouthe, a gate to Mordor's plain Helcaraxe, a land even we would call uncouth. Gorgoroth, my Lord's Yrch proving region. Fire-drake, vanished are all of that host. Engwar, the race of Men, a sickly crowd. Dagorlad, field of battle turned to our woes. Cold-drake, Dwarf foe most grim Brambles, my home's only growing floral. Angmar, kingdom of the Witch-King's hand.

Zirak-zigil, where the last Valaraukar fell. Yrch, innumerable beyond count Xerxes, a Lord of the Numenorean Black. Warg, my loyal blood-thirst hound Valaraukar, Longbeards' Bane Udun, the Garden of my youth Tarks, bloody handed slayers of my legions Sauron, my great Lord and Master now lost. Ringwraiths, pompous servants and over-proud. Quendi, my Master's Age-long foes. Pukel-men, I know not of them Orthanc, what would have been my Balmoral Nurn, pantry for my homeland. Mere of the Dead, where little candles dwell. Lorien, foes dwelling on a green mount Khamul, a consort not to come back. Jewels, to crown Rings less sound. Isenmouthe, a gate to Mordor's plain Helcaraxe, a land even we would call uncouth. Gorgoroth, my Lord's Yrch proving region. Fire-drake, vanished are all of that host. Engwar, the race of Men, a sickly crowd. Dagorlad, field of battle turned to our woes. Cold-drake, Dwarf foe most grim Brambles, my home's only growing floral. Angmar, kingdom of the Witch-King's hand.

Zirak-zigil, where the last Valaraukar fell. Yrch, innumerable beyond count Xerxes, a Lord of the Numenorean Black. Warg, my loyal blood-thirst hound Valaraukar, Longbeards' Bane Udun, the Garden of my youth Tarks, bloody handed slayers of my legions Sauron, my great Lord and Master now lost. Ringwraiths, pompous servants and over-proud. Quendi, my Master's Age-long foes. Pukel-men, I know not of them Orthanc, what would have been my Balmoral Nurn, pantry for my homeland. Mere of the Dead, where little candles dwell. Lorien, foes dwelling on a green mount Khamul, a consort not to come back. Jewels, to crown Rings less sound. Isenmouthe, a gate to Mordor's plain Helcaraxe, a land even we would call uncouth. Gorgoroth, my Lord's Yrch proving region. Fire-drake, vanished are all of that host. Engwar, the race of Men, a sickly crowd. Dagorlad, field of battle turned to our woes. Cold-drake, Dwarf foe most grim Brambles, my home's only growing floral. Angmar, kingdom of the Witch-King's hand.

Never ceases to amaze how many ways people find to do this simple ABC. That was a real gem if I do say so, and I do.

Hail and Hiya CarakDur your tree-mendous triple posted audition has earned you a place in the Grand High Mystic blah blah blah more generally known as The Bard's Guild. I am the somewhat lax of late leader of this merry band and I welcome you to come sojourn with us and partake of whatever nonsense occupies us at the moment.

I just noticed how that misplaced apostrophe can change the entire conotation of the title. I guess it is my guild in a way but it really belongs to all of us, all Bards past and present, all bards real and fabled, all bards everywhen